IS&T Policies: Google Analytics

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Policy

MIT Departments, Labs, and Centers (DLCs) may use Google Analytics to capture the DLC’s website usage analytics. Such software allows the DLCs to collect anonymous information from users to help track website usage and referrals from other websites. These data are used primarily to optimize the website experience for visitors to the DLCs’ websites, but DLCs may also use the data to assist them in raising visibility and use of their website.

Information collected and processed with Google Analytics software may include the user’s IP address, network location, and geographic location. Google Analytics acquires all its information directly from the user, by installing a cookie (see below) on JavaScript-enabled computers. MIT does not share any information it collects with Google, and Google does not collect any personal identifying information such as names, contact information, social security numbers, or financial information.

Cookies

Cookies are unique bits of computer data that many major websites will transfer to your computer the first time that you visit. Cookies are stored on your hard drive and may be later accessed by the DLC website to track prior usage. As noted above, certain analytics software will install a cookie on the hard drives of visitors of the DLC websites.